ASHTON, Walter James 1872 - 1950

Born at Warrington in 1872. He grew up in a family which gave three sons to the Methodist Ministry. He received his training at Richmond College and entered the Ministry in 1899.

After seven years in the French stations he served, with one exception, in the Midlands and the North, in some cases staying on for an extended term.

Since his retirement in 1937 he resided in the Blackpool (North) Circuit and rendered constant service in the pulpits of the Fylde Coast. He retained his youthful appearance to the end, and was thoroughly at home in talking to young and old. In the pulpit he was a faithful expounder of the word of God, expert in revealing the truth contained in a text with interest and profit to his congregation.

He loved to preach and to hear the Word. He frequently commented helpfully on the sermons of his brethren, and was always a good listener.

His knowledge of the Bible was matched by his love of the Hymn-book. During his extreme weakness in his last days, he was greatly helped by the hymns of the faith, and the Hymn-book was a means of grace. As a Superintendent he was wise in judgement, brotherly in his dealings with his colleagues, and a true pastor to his people. His interest in the work of the Church he loved was retained to the end, his last public appearance being at the ministers’ meeting in connection with the President’s Convention.

He passed peacefully away on 5th January 1950 in the seventy-eighth year of his life and the fifty-first of his ministry.

©Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 1950